At the beginning of next year, we will start the reintegration of the 13th monthly pension, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Thursday, on the International Day of Older Persons.

In a video message posted on Facebook after the meeting of the Council of the Elderly, the Prime Minister said the most important topic was the 13th monthly pension as everyone is intrigued whether – now that the epidemic is taking its toll not only on the people, but also on the economy – it will be possible to start the reintegration of the 13th monthly pension as pledged earlier.

“On behalf of the government and the finance minister, I gave a clear answer: at the beginning of next year, we will start the reintegration of the 13th monthly pension, regardless of the epidemic,” Mr Orbán stated.

The coming months will be difficult for the elderly because the citizens of the country have decided not to put the country into lockdown again in the autumn, but to keep institutions, schools, jobs, sports facilities, theatres and forums similar to the Council of the Elderly continuously up and running, the Prime Minister continued.

He stressed that this will require more attention on everyone’s part, both the young and the elderly, as the threat is significant. He indicated that the meeting of the Council of the Elderly, too, was held amidst enhanced safety measures.

“If we fail to take care and pay attention to one another, we could lose many lives, including lives that we could have otherwise saved,” Mr Orbán said.

(The Prime Minister / MTI)